2015

One By One The Butterflies Whispered Their Tales

Oil on Canvas 40 x 30 With Gold Leaf-
Starring Greta Garbo

My Moment of Song

Oil on Canvas 30 x 40

Sentient of Sunset

Oil on Canvas 48 x 36
Starring Thelma Todd (1906-1935)
Many people (at least those interested in old Hollywood) have heard the stories of untimely deaths of actresses Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow. But not as many have heard of another beautiful blonde actress, Thelma Todd, who also died young and tragically at the age of twenty-nine and the mystery of her unsolved demise has lingered for more than six decades.
She trained to become a schoolteacher, but was convinced to enter a beauty contest which resulted in her becoming Miss Massachusetts. This, in turn, eventually led to becoming a stock player and moving to Hollywood. Eventually the film industry went through a series of changes as the “talkies” became the new medium of choice. The silent films were gone for good and with them some of the biggest stars of the era.
For Thelma, the coming of sound motion pictures could not have occurred at a better time. She was now able to develop her comedic persona. Her films were mostly comedies in which she portrayed the sarcastic and wise-cracking blond that most suited her. And a new generation of screen stars was born. Earning the nickname “Hot Toddy”, she is best remembered for her comedic roles in films with the Marx Brothers' and co-starring with Buster Keaton and Jimmy Durante. She also had roles in Wheeler and Woolsey farces, several Laurel and Hardy films.
While her acting career continued to soar, her personal life was less so. Thelma suffered a tragic love affair and a short marriage to Pat DiCicco that may or may not at one time been happy. She was a caring person and known to have been loved by anyone who knew her. As time passed her disillusion of Hollywood grew, partly because she was getting older and she felt she would never be given the chance to achieve true stardom. In August 1934, she opened a successful cafe at Pacific Palisades, called Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe, attracting a diverse clientele of Hollywood celebrities as well as many tourists.
There have been many theories about how and why she died - the most common being that she was murdered by Lucky Luciano as gangland activity was appearing in California. None of the theories have ever been proven, but it was determined that she died by carbon monoxide poisoning, a sad end to a remarkable woman.
Some say her ghost is still frequently seen and encountered at building where her café was once located. They have reported to say that they often spotted a filmy apparition that resembles the “Ice Cream Blond”, perhaps replaying the events of the night of her death.
In the end, with the death of Miss Todd, the cinema lost a gifted comedienne, and who knows but a gifted dramatic actress also who was never given the chance to broaden her repertoire.

Pearls Before Peacock

Oil on Canvas 47 x 37
With Gold Leaf-
Starring Myrna Darby (1908-1929)
Born in Pittsburgh, Myrna Darby appeared in 6 Ziegfeld productions before her death at age 21. Strikingly photogenic, she was one of the highest paid showgirls in New York. A Ziegfeld Girl at 19 and she reputedly faked her death at age 21. Rumors surrounding her death guessed that she might have died of heartbreak, her engagement to a fur baron having been recently called off. Another theory implied a sunstroke induced heart infection, having received severe sunburn. Reportedly after being bedridden for 7 months, not one of her admirers attended her funeral.
Larry Fay, the mysterious millionaire associated with the mob and whom many consider the man behind F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby, paid her medical bills anonymously. Later Fay announced his engagement to an actress that eerily looked like Myrna Darby.
The story goes on to say that Fay was gunned down and Myrna inherited his millions.
Born of intense poverty and suffering, Myrna Darby appears to be an innocent and angelic woman of beauty. Her icy blue eyes may tell otherwise of her fascinating life... Hollywood indeed.

Morning Becomes Electric

Oil on Canvas 60 x 24
Starring￼ Doris Kenyon
(1897-1979)
Doris Kenyon made her stage and screen debuts in 1915. She was often cast as a pleasant heroine in many silent films. She co-starred with popular silent-era actors like Rudolph Valentino and her future husband Milton Sills. Due to her stage experience she made a smooth transition to sound films. She could still be seen on television in the mid-'60s.
Silent movie star Doris Kenyon's professional career included the stage, screen, writing, and concert singing. When she was sixteen she sang for Victor Herbert at a dinner party and he was so impressed that he cast her as the lead in his musical "Princess Pat". She also sang with the Metropolitan Opera.
Doris spent her later years involved in charity work, including singing with the USO during World War Two, and traveling the lecture circuit for women's clubs. She wrote a book of short stories called "Doris Kenyon's Monologues", published in 1929.
She was married at least four times (documented), divorced several times, and widowed twice.

Of Absolutely Everything

Oil on Canvas 47 x 37
Starring Evelyn Brent
Hollywood’s Shady Lady
(1899 - 1975)
American film and stage actress began her career as an extra in the silent films. Making her major debut in a silent film production in 1915. Moving to Hollywood in 1922, she went on to make more than two dozen silent films and then transitioned into talkies. Brent appeared in Paramount’s first talkie. Smoldering and sultry she became typecast in archetypal, hard-as-nails, soft-as-feathers shady lady roles.
After performing in more than 120 films she retired in 1950 and became an actors agent. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.